Leader: Contrary Cosla deserves a hearing

ONE of the more troubling aspects of public life since the election of an SNP administration has been the reluctance of some public, private and voluntary organsiations to voice criticism of ministers for fear of incuring wrath and rebribution.

Given its member organisations have been at the sharp end of government budget decisions, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, Cosla, has not been amongst the fearties and expressed countrary views on a wide range of issues.

Launching a campaign today against a single Scottish police force, a development it describes as a "centralising power grab", Cosla is again at odds with the SNP. But ministers must listen to the arguments.

As we have said before, in a country of five million people there is a strong case for one police force but, as Cosla rightly points out, local accountability is vital. A starting point is whether the current eight police boards properly hold chief constables to account. Can the lay chairmen of the boards really influence strong, long-serving and powerful chief constables? There is little evidence they do.

However, were there one force but with divisional commanders in each of the local authority areas - including possibly fewer councils than we have now - there is a possibility the police would be better held to account than they are by the more remote boards we have now. This should not be a party politicval decision and before justice secretary Kenny McAskill makes a final decision on police reform, we need a frank and open debate.